the closer you get the better you look (babe)

Well we’ve had the final meeting and almost everything is all set up now for the off. Last night passports were handed in and boots were inspected. (NZ customs are apparently very worried about BSE or such like getting into the country). The official tour party photo was taken and most of the kit was given out. Whilst not quite up to Lions standards, the Warriors full tour package will include:
Red Polo shirt with official badge (see photo)
Blue ‘Scarlets’ polo shirt
Shower jacket
Official tour tie (if they come in time)
Shirt
‘Drinking’ t shirt
Name badge
2 CDs of ‘rugby songs’ (inc As long as we beat the e**lish, Yellow submarine, Arglwydd dyma fi, Saturday night at the movies etc)
Official Warriors song book
Tour bag (big)
Tour bag (small)
Tour book (inc player profiles in the form of top trump)
Disposable camera (hopefully)
Various keyrings and other assorted nick nacks.
There are also two flags, a lap top, a video recorder, set of Warriors top trump cards, yellow jersey (for tour leader), tour slave costume, two full team kits and four rugby balls.


Whilst we won’t meet til Sunday, I’m sure most will feel like me once you finnish work on a Friday that’s it. At least a few of us will be meeting in the Caprice in town to watch the 1st test between e**ngland, oops, sori Lions and New Zealand.
Woody has totally gone against his word and picked on reputation not form.
Hardly anyone has had a good tour, Lewsey springs to mind, the Welsh boys have been no worse and often much better than those included. You can understand O’Driscoll keeping his place as captain but how Dawson, Hill, Wilkinson, Greenwood, Robinson, Thompson, grewcock etc are in the test 22 infront of Shane bach, Shanklin, Henson, Cusiter, Shaw, Easterbey, Martyn Williams etc is quite incredible. Gareth Cooper finally got a start this morning against Southland but was taken off just after half time FFS (review). On top of that there is talk on Golden Jonny playing center despite the fact he’s played hardly any rugby in 2 years and looked out of touch in his one game on tour to date. There I was thinking it was going to be hard to decide who to support. COME ON NEW ZEALAND.

Right, all I have to do now is finish the tour book for photocopying, sort out my money, buy badges and some stuff to present opposition teams with, check out the t shirt production, clean my boots again, find my clothes, pack, finish the CD covers, deflate some rugby balls, make sure the kits are washed and a couple of other bits and I’m all ready.